UPDATED 3:39 P.M.
PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria now has recorded fifteen homicides this year – three of them in the last week.
That’s after Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood says he’s ruled the death of a local woman a homicide.
Harwood says an autopsy on Vanessa Tucker, 36, determined she died from asphyxiation due to suffocation.
Peoria Police were called to a home near Wisconsin and Arcadia around 4:15 a.m. Tuesday on reports of an unconscious female, after a 911 call came from Avion Tapia, 17.
Tapia was arrested on a charge of First Degree Murder, and Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos says he will be tried as an adult.
He’s currently in juvenile custody on $1 million bond.
